A few off-day notes

The Indians designated Mark Reynolds for assignment this morning and I’m already being asked about the Orioles’ level of interest in bringing him back.

I have no idea. The ink on the transaction hasn’t even dried yet.

The Orioles had no interest in picking up his $11 million option over the winter or tendering him a contract and risking an arbitration hearing. But circumstances do change.

They’re in the market for a right-handed hitter, but Reynolds batted .218/.310/.386 in May, .187/.288/.253 in June and .098/.233/.098 in July. He’s 3-for-9 with a double and RBI this month.

The Indians are in playoff contention and they’re cutting ties with him. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. But Orioles fans know how he’s capable of going on a home run binge, and it can be debated whether he’s an upgrade over Steve Pearce as a right-handed designated hitter.

Pearce also plays the outfield, which currently makes him a valuable replacement for Nolan Reimold. Reynolds would be like Danny Valencia - a corner infielder on a team that doesn’t need corner infielders. Hence, the DH role.

The Indians signed Reynolds to a one-year, $6 million deal in December, and he responded by hitting .215/.307/.373 with 15 homers, 48 RBIs 43 walks and 123 strikeouts in 335 at-bats.

I know the discussion began on my last blog entry, but we’ll carry it over to this one. Should the Orioles push for a reunion?

As part of Fan Appreciation Week 2013, for the first time an Orioles fan will design a team giveaway - a T-shirt on Thursday, Sept. 26. The shirts will be distributed to the first 10,000 fans ages 15 and over attending that night’s game against the Red Sox.

Fans should visit www.orioles.com/fanshirt to see a complete list of rules and gain access to Orioles team logos that may be used for this purpose. Submissions will be accepted until Aug. 31. Fans are encouraged to work on their designs now and upload beginning Aug. 15. The winner will receive four tickets to the Sept. 26 game.

After Aug. 31, the Orioles will select the top three finalists and fans will then be given the opportunity to vote at www.orioles.com/fanshirt for their favorite t-shirt design.

The Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards will serve as a drop-off site for the Oriole Advocates Cardboard to Leather (C2L) program. The program is one of the Oriole Advocates’ major projects where gently used and new baseball and softball equipment is collected and sent to underprivileged youth in developing countries.

The C2L donation box will be located inside the Sports Legends Museum. Equipment will be accepted during regular museum hours between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and until 7 p.m. during all Orioles home games. C2L accepts a variety of equipment, including uniforms, bats, gloves, helmets, catcher’s equipment, baseballs and more.

“Cardboard to Leather is an incredible program, and our friends at Oriole Advocates have worked tirelessly over the past several years to donate equipment to youth in many developing countries,” said Mike Gibbons, executive director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation. “We are honored to be a part of the program this year and we encourage as many people as possible to donate equipment to give more youth the opportunity to learn and enjoy the game of baseball that we appreciate so much.”